U.S. GOVERNMENT PRINTING OFFICE

WASHINGTON : 

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79–112

" ! SENATE 106TH CONGRESS

2d Session

TREATY DOC.

2000

106–43

PROTOCOL AMENDING THE 1950 CONSULAR

CONVENTION WITH IRELAND

MESSAGE

FROM

THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

TRANSMITTING

PROTOCOL AMENDING THE 1950 CONSULAR CONVENTION BETWEEN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AND IRELAND,

SIGNED AT WASHINGTON ON JUNE 16, 1998

SEPTEMBER 5, 2000.—The Protocol was read the first time, and together

with the accompanying papers, referred to the Committee on Foreign

Relations and ordered to be printed for the use of the Senate

(III)

LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

THE WHITE HOUSE, September 5, 2000.

To the Senate of the United States:

I transmit herewith, for the Senate’s advice and consent to ratification, the Protocol Amending the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United States of America and Ireland, signed at Washington on June 16, 1998. Also transmitted for the information of

the Senate is the report of the Department of State with respect

to the Protocol.

The Protocol expands the scope of tax exemption under the 1950

Consular Convention Between the United States of America and

Ireland to provide for reciprocal exemption from all taxes, including

Value Added Taxes (VAT) on goods and services for the official use

of the mission or for the personal use of mission members and families. The amendment will provide financial benefit to the United

States, both through direct savings on embassy purchases of goods

and services as well as through lowering the cost of living for

United States Government employees assigned to the U.S. Embassy in Dublin.

Because the Protocol will achieve long-term tax exemption on the

purchase of goods and services for our embassy and personnel in

Ireland, I recommend that the Senate give early and favorable consideration to the Protocol and give its advice and consent to ratification.

WILLIAM J. CLINTON.

(V)

LETTER OF SUBMITTAL

DEPARTMENT OF STATE,

Washington, June 14, 2000.

The PRESIDENT,

The White House.

THE PRESIDENT: I have the honor to submit to you, with a view

to its transmission to the Senate for its advice and consent to ratification, a Protocol Amending the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United States of America and Ireland, signed at Washington on June 16, 1998 (the ‘‘Protocol’’).

The Protocol expands the scope of the reciprocal tax exemption

granted under the 1950 Consular Convention Between the United

States of America and Ireland to provide exemption from all taxes

on purchases by diplomatic and consular missions, members of

such missions and their families.

Specifically, Articles 1–4 of the Protocol provide for reciprocal exemption from all taxes, including Value Added Taxes (VAT), on

goods and services for the official use of the diplomatic or consular

mission as well as for the personal use of mission members and

their families. Article 5 assures that the Protocol does not expand

the legal obligations of the United States by stating that the grant

of tax exemption in Ireland under the Protocol is coextensive with

that afforded by the United States under the Vienna Convention on

Diplomatic Relations and the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations.

As a result of this amendment to the 1950 Convention, the

United States will derive financial benefits through direct savings

on embassy purchases of goods and services as well as through lowering the cost of living for United States Government employees assigned to Embassy Dublin. Overall, the Protocol Amending the

1950 Consular Convention will further develop and strengthen our

relations with Ireland and benefit the interests of nationals of both

countries. I recommend that the Protocol be transmitted to the

Senate for its advice and consent to ratification.

Respectfully submitted,

MADELEINE ALBRIGHT.

(1)

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